Donald Trump is set to host Viktor Orbán next week at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, as reported by The New York Times. The meeting is expected to occur on 8 March, according to a source familiar with the arrangements who spoke on condition of anonymity. The New York Times reached out to the White House to inquire whether the Hungarian Prime Minister intends to meet with Democratic President Joe Biden—and potentially Donald Trump’s opponent in November—, but the National Security Council stated that no such plans were in place.
Donald Trump and Viktor Orbán last met in the summer of 2022, when the two held talks at the former President’s golf club in New Jersey. The meeting took place prior to the CPAC conference in Dallas, where Viktor Orbán delivered the opening speech and received thunderous applause from the audience. The 2022 meeting was attended by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, Balázs Orbán, the Prime Minister’s Political Director, and Zsolt Németh, Chairman of parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. Following the talks, PM Orbán shared a picture with the former Republican President on his social media page, with the caption ‘In alliance for peace’.
It is no exaggeration to say that Donald Trump and Viktor Orbán are the most prominent figures of the international right today, and their upcoming meeting will undoubtedly attract special attention from both right-wing and left-wing circles. The two politicians frequently reference each other in their campaign speeches. Recently, PM Orbán expressed admiration for Donald Trump during his State of the Nation address, stating: ‘If providence favours us, Hungary’s scope for action will be broadened to a level we have not witnessed in a long time. We wish for Donald Trump’s return to the presidency to bring stability to Eastern Europe.’
In a campaign speech in Iowa, the former President lauded the Hungarian Prime Minister, describing him as the most respected and formidable figure in Europe—and perhaps even beyond.
This meeting is particularly significant as both Viktor Orbán and Donald Trump are gearing up for pivotal elections. The European Parliament elections scheduled for June 6-9 will provide right-wing parties with a genuine opportunity, unprecedented in history, to influence the direction of European politics for the next five years. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, having secured consecutive victories in the Republican primaries, is making preparations for his return to the White House.
Should there be a shift towards right-wing politics in Europe and a victory for Donald Trump,
the international geopolitical landscape could undergo significant changes.
The former President has consistently expressed intentions to reduce military and financial assistance to Ukraine. Furthermore, akin to the Hungarian government, Trump advocates for peace, and his administration would likely engage in negotiations with Moscow to seek an end to hostilities.
If right-wing parties secure victory in the European Parliament elections, the EU’s stance could potentially shift towards a more peace-oriented approach. Moreover, an EP prioritizing pragmatic cooperation over ideological conflict would hold particular significance for Hungary. This shift could positively influence the release of EU funds earmarked for Hungary, which have currently been frozen. Recently, Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders declared that Hungary would not receive any funding from the Recovery Fund until it addresses Brussels’ concerns regarding the rule of law.
Many of these concerns are perceived as pseudo-problems and stem from Hungary’s differing positions on key issues compared to Brussels, such as the conflict in Ukraine, illegal migration, LGBTQ rights, among others.
As noted by Bloomberg, the Hungarian Prime Minister has long been highly regarded on the American right, largely due to his stance on illegal immigration and LGBTQ propaganda. This sentiment is particularly pronounced in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis, a former Republican primary candidate, is frequently referred to as ‘Florida’s Orbán.’ DeSantis shares many similar perspectives with Viktor Orbán and has implemented legislation resembling the Hungarian Child Protection Act in the Sunshine State. ‘About the “Don’t Say Gay law”, it was in fact modelled in part on what Hungary did last summer. I was told this by a conservative reporter who…said he talked to the press secretary of Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida and she said, “Oh yeah, we were watching the Hungarians, so yay Hungary”,’ said Rod Dreher, American columnist and writer at a panel discussion held by Danube Institute back in 2022.
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